Anukulan Success Cases

CONTENTS Page number Acronyms 2

Introduction 3

Chapter‐1: Case studies on agriculture 5 1.1 Case study of Ms. Basanti Kasera of Surkhet 5 1.2 Case study of Mr. Ishwari Tharu of Bardiya 8 1.3 Case study of Ms. Kaushila Bhattarai of Dadeldhura 11 1.4 Case study of Ms. Rajyalaxmi Rana of Kanchanpur 13 1.5 Case study of Zero tillage wheat in Rice‐fallow lowland cropping 15 system. Chapter‐2: Case studies on value chain development 18 1.1 Case study of Kumari Agrovet of Fulbari, Kailali 18 1.2 Case study of Mr. Deependra Bohara of Alital, Dadeldhura 20 1.3 Case study of Pasupati CC/Hatbazzar,Bardiya 22 Chapter‐3: Case studies on climate resilient irrigation technologies 24 2.1 Case study of Garekhola MUS in Doti 24 2.2 Case study of Ms. Bishana Devi Balayar of Doti 26 Chapter‐3: Case studies on health and nutrition 28 3.1 Case study of Ms. Shanti Devi Nath 28

3.2 Case study of Ms. Manisha Oli 30 3.3 Case study of Ms. Lalrani Tharu 33

Chapter‐4: Case studies on essential oil 36 4.1 Case study of Shikhar Jadibuti Prasodhan Udhyog, Kanchanpur 36 4.2 Case study of Sunauli Essential Herbal Processing Industry,Bardiya 39 Chapter‐5: Case studies on LAPA 41

5.1 Case study of Pardeshni Chaudhari, an adaptation fund receiver 41

5.2 Case study of Mr. Dhan Bahadur Oli, an ICS user 44

5.3 Case study of Ms. Kalika Chaudhary, a biogas user 46

5.4 Case study of early warning system and bio‐engineering 48 5.5 Case study of culvert construction 51

Acronym CCA Climate Change Adaptation CCI Chamber of Commerce and Industry CDMC Community disaster management committee CFI Challenge Fund Implementer CFUG Community Forest User Group CFUG Community Forest User Group DADO District Agriculture Development Office DRR Disaster risk reduction DU Distillation Unit DU MC Distillation Unit Management Committee EWS Early warning system ICS Improved Cooking Stoves IPM Integrated Pest Management LDMC Local disaster management committee LDRMP Local disaster risk management plan Municipality Energy Environment and Climate Change Coordination ME2C4 Committee MP Municipality MPC Market Planning Committee MUS Multiple Water Use System NFF Nutrition Field Facilitator PPP Public‐Private Partnership ROLDP Result Oriented Leadership Development Plan VDC Village Development Committee VE2C4 Village Energy Environment and Climate Change Coordination Committee WUC Water User Committee ZT Zero tillage Technology

Introduction

Anukulan aims at scaling-up and integrating proven approaches to strengthen climate change resilience of poor and vulnerable households and communities of mid-west and far west of Nepal. The project facilitates development of sustainable rural organizations around economic opportunities generated in agriculture, water resource management, and community forestry. It mainly promotes harmonization of disaster risk reduction (DRR) planning and climate change adaptation (CCA) strategies at local level to influence climate risk management policies and institutions. Besides, the project empowers women to take lead roles in rural institutions and take benefits from economic opportunities generated through public-private partnerships. Anukulan is helping to improve food security and nutrition, and increase annual incomes by an average £140 for 100,000 households, benefiting more than 500,000 people, through climate resilient farming systems and diversification of livelihoods by end of the project.

By documenting these case studies, Anukulan aims to share and learn from the project implementation experiences. To disseminate the successes, lessons learnt and areas of improvement of approaches and technologies, this document is prepared and will be shared with wider range of audiences. This document will help to transfer knowledge gained in Anukulan to other similar projects or other project areas with similar geographical locations.

This report covers case studies (stories) gathered in this last 12-months on climate resilient farming systems which Anukulan targets to build to benefit 100 thousand of households residing in climate vulnerable and food insure areas of Nepal. This is done by formulating local adaptation plan of action (LAPA) synchronizing Anukulan activities into the plan. Incorporation of agriculture, irrigation, nutrition, climate smart technologies, public private partnership, market development and nutrition sectors into LAPA is the unique efforts Anukulan have targeted.

This report identifies five areas of interventions which are documented in different thematic chapters in the form of ‘case stories’ so that each story is useful for relevant stakeholders;

1. Adaptation to drought resulting from reduced winter rainfall through water management. The Mid- and Far Western development regions of Nepal are the most vulnerable to the negative impacts of more erratic rainfall and declines in winter precipitation. Water management strategies, supported by introduction of drought- tolerant crops and crop varieties used in the project area played a critical role in reducing the vulnerability of at-risk populations.

2. Adaptation to climate-induced market risks. At-risk populations are highly dependent on markets and vulnerable to volatile food prices. In this context, Project supported towards improving infrastructure to enhance access to markets and provided timely information about roads/routes through implementation of early warning systems.

3. Support to livelihood and income diversification. Given the high reliance on rain- fed agriculture, strategies for livelihood and income diversification are critical to ensuring resilience. Henceforth, project supported to access towards micro-finance institutionions available in the project area. Besides this assisted towards additional income sources, such as skilled non-farm activities and forest management uplifted the livelihood status of the people residing in the project area.

4. Capacity building at government and community levels. Efforts to reduce climate impacts should also incorporate a strong capacity building and resource mobilization component at government and community levels. Therefore project provided different level of capacity building meetings and trainings to government and related stakeholders and assisted in developing local adaptation plan for action(LAPA) to implement locally planned intervention, , as well as supported in developing analytical tools to ensure that risks and vulnerabilities are identified and mapped.

5. Strengthening climate information for early warning systems. An effective early detection and warning system for severe or abrupt climate variability is an important tool for climate risk management. Therefore, project through integrating available climate information into existing early warning systems provided an additional layer of information to beneficiaries for better food security and adaptation planning.

CHAPTER-1: CASE STUDIES ON AGRICULTURE

1.1 Case study of Ms. Basanti Kasera of Surkhet

Basanti with her cucumber plants and observing drip pipes

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson? This story is about Anukulan activities that changed the quality of life of farmers and increased the income of the rural people. A small intervention can change and sustain daily livelihood of people was a good learning.

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently?

Ms Basanti Kasera, aged 41, resides in a village called Lekhparajul, which is 20 km east of Birendranagar, Surkhet. She is enjoying farming with her five-membered family. She is now popular as a progressive farmer in her village. Currently she is earning from vegetable farming by using modern agriculture practices and technologies such as improved seeds, drip irrigation to the water resource managed by multiple water use system (MUS). In her farm, cauliflower and cabbage are waiting for harvesting while tomato and cucumber are in her plastic house. She enjoys sharing her knowledge with her neighbors and friends who want to do the same.

Agriculture in Lekhparajul is difficult due to drought condition. Previously, her family has to struggle to fulfill daily household meal requirements as they were adopting traditional farming practices and they mainly used to grow maize, wheat and paddy. Currently, she is a member of Sisneri farmer group, which is a mixed group of men and women. This group was formed in October 2015 and lead by a dalit woman chairman, Ms Dilmaya Sunar. Being a part of this group, she received a package of Anukulan trainings, namely, group management, account keeping, home gardening, off season vegetable, organic farming, IPM, nursery grower and many more. Basanti changed her farming practices. Two MUS are established in Lekhparajul to address drought condition, namely, Majhi Gau MUS and Sanimora MUS.

Majhi Gau MUS provide water to 20 HHs and her husband has become chairman of Water User Committee. Sisneri farmer group has also actively participated in construction of a new recharge pond of 40 m3 capacity to cater water source for their MUS in June 2016. These concerted efforts of the villager have enabled to change the agriculture practices and life style of the village.

Basanti along with other friends have succeeded to be progressive farmers. For first time in her lifetime, she grew capsicum in 254 sq. mts. of land and earned NRs 7,700 (GBP 54.61). Seeing the benefits, she gained confidence to grow cabbage and broccoli in same piece of land and earned NRs. 5400 (GBP 42). With constant follow-ups and technical support from Agriculture technician, Mr. Bimal Koirala and with MUS in the village, she purchased drip irrigation as demonstrated in the village and expanded her vegetable plot area to 1017 sq. mt. Now she is growing cucumber and tomatoes in her plastic tunnels while cauliflower and cabbage are in her open fields which are still to be harvested and sold.

Her future plan is to open a professional agriculture farm not limiting herself as a smallholder farmer. She has planned to make her village a vegetable pocket area and also expand her business to nearby villages by motivating other women farmers. She is optimistic to earn her living from vegetable farming. She has planned to spend her life to provide better environment and education for her children. Also, she is planning to make her group as a model group through encouraging all group members and assisting them towards commercial production.

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result? It shows that the package of activities delivered by Anukulan shows ways to many farmers to use local resources sustainably to enable smallholders to build their resiliency to climate change. Basanti has substantially changed her lifestyle as she is eating fresh vegetables from her own land and also selling them to bring additional income to family. Her husband is an auto driver in Birendranagar is now showing interest in vegetable cultivation and became chairman of MUS committee. She feels independent to take her own decisions and expense as she is earning and contributing to her family income.

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.) Basanti and her daughter lives in village while her husband and two sons live in city. Basanti’s husband is a auto driver, works at Birendranagar and her 2 sons are getting higher education (10+2) at Birendranagar. Her daughter is in grade seven at the government school nearby village. The major challenge her village face is drought, lack of agriculture roads, and effective markets. Basanti’s community faces severe water shortages, the use of drip irrigation and conservation agriculture practices including the use of mulching greatly increases the amount that can be produced with limited water resources. Basanti also lacked access to agricultural markets and technologies before the Anukulan facilitated.

Did things go according to plan? Did anything unexpected happen (positive or negative)?

Major challenge of the village is during rainy season, the village get cut-off from road access as the river that flow below the village rise with high water current and there is no bridge nearby and have to walk 3-4 hours to reach the bridge that is in another village.

This information is collected by Agriculture Technician, Mr. Bimal Koirala during his continuous visit to the village to implement Anukulan agriculture activities package and the photo was captured during his field visit.

1.2 Case study of Mr. Ishwari Tharu of Bardiya

Ishwori with his wife in his cucumber farm proudly carrying his harvests

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson? Anukulan Public Private Partnership approach can significantly increase the income and welfare of smallholder farmers through climate smart agriculture cost effectively.

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently? Mr. Ishwori Tharu resides in Kalika, Phulpur of Bardiya District and was a small-scale commercial farmer before Anukulan. Previously, he used to farm without much knowledge on climate smart technologies and his average annual income was GBP 730.76 from vegetables and cereals.

A year ago, his daughter in law Ms. Parbati Tharu joined Anukulan agriculture groups called Pragati farmer group and she is a treasurer of this group. Through her, he came to know about all the useful trainings he was seeking. Whenever, Parbati couldn’t attend the training due to her household chores, and children, he had the opportunity to represent her and attend various meetings and trainings which was a turning point for him. Later he got actively involved in the group activities and registered himself as a group member in the group. He played important role to register the group in DADO. He has received various trainings such as off- seasonal vegetables, IPM and low cost irrigation technologies from which he could organize his small-scale agriculture efforts and able to increase his annual income by more than two folds. He has expanded farm area and plans to rent in neighboring lands in future. His wife and daughter in law help him in his farm. This year he grew cucumber, cauliflower, tomato, bottle gourd, bitter gourd and pumpkin in a hectare of land and sold 90 quintals of these

8 vegetables from which he earned approx. GBP 1730.76. He has adopted drip irrigation for farming which he finds it very useful technology.

Anukulan trained the group to manage group funds, keep record of their productions and minute all the decisions. Mr. Tharu is accessing credits from the group funds to buy his inputs such as seed, IPM products, technologies etc. Anukulan has linked input services of Bhrikuti Agrovet by developing the last mile of supply chain, a community business facilitator, Ms Parawati Kafle from whom he accesses services.

Iswori is very happy as Anukulan provided them with complete training package which has has always needed to expand hi farm. This year he is very happy with the production of cucumber. “Traders themselves came to him to book his produces” was his happy sharing.

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result? Anukulan has assisted in developing commercial pocket in this area through development of participatory market chain of related value chain actors in the area. Now the group has good linkages with private sectors mainly input suppliers and irrigation dealers which helped them in timely access to quality inputs and also provide credit facilities. In support of Anukulan and government, collection centre named ‘Pashupati Bazaar Vegetable Collection Centre’ has been established in this area which helped in easy marketing of produces produced in this area. Beside this, this CC also provide service towards information on market price, crop calendar and on climate smart technologies useful for good production from their piece of land.

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.)

Iswari’s community faces severe water shortages, the use of drip irrigation and conservation agriculture practices including the use of mulching greatly increases the amount that can be produced with limited water resources. Ishwari also lacked access to agricultural markets and technologies before the Anukulan facilitated public private partnership.

There are 12 members in his family living together and now with increase in income he is able to pay for his sons higher study fees in Kathmandu. He has also one daughter in-law working as teacher in village school and after school hours she is supporting in vegetable farming. The earnings of the vegetables are utilizing in their children education, Health and household expenses. He happily shared that it made easy to daily life in his family.

Did things go according to plan? Did anything unexpected happen (positive or negative)? Iswori aims to become a commercial farmer as he has to raise his big family. He got involved in the farmer group a year ago and his vision has motivated farmers of his group and even farmers of nearby villages.

This case is based on the field experiences of the staffs working in this area.

1.4 Case study of Ms. Kaushila Bhandari of Dadeldhura

Watering seedling in nursery and plastic mulched farm ready for transplanting

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson? Climate smart practices have changed the livelihood status of Ms. Kaushila Bhandari family, a hardworking and enthusiastic farming family who is in a need of support to raise her income and fulfill their daily necessities.

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently? Kaushila and her husband, Hikmat Bhandari, is a resident of Amargadhi Municipality-7, Dadeldhura district. She has received various agricultural trainings such as IPM, off-season, organic vegetable farming, post harvesting, account keeping, home gardening and other need based was very new concept to disseminate knowledge about importance of IPM/bio products, plastic/live mulching and MITs. IPM demonstration helped to promote live/plastic mulching, trichoderma, bio-fertilizer, bio-pesticides, and various traps which reduced the use of inorganic fertilizers, chemical pesticides, weeds and thus reducing the costs of production and providing sustainable solution to the problems. She used to earn GBP 115.38 previously in her conventional farming practices. After joining, Sunpokhari Farmer Group, she started growing cabbage, squash, cucumber, bottle gourd and learned to grow them in nurseries. With support of various technical trainings, the production this year was 1,616 kg and she earned GBP 373.07 in 4 months.

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result?

She didn’t get handsome income from traditional way of vegetable farming ultimately avoiding traditional agricultural practices forced to move to the commercial farming made Kaushila Bhattarai has substantially increased her income utilizing local resources as mulching, Jholmol and MIT for irrigation, IPM technology. She is a treasurer of collection centre and in same periphery; Anukulan project strengthened the MPC/CC that made her easy to collect large and small scale of agricultural commodities in one place, earning good money as well as saving time too.

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.) Kaushila Bhandari, 37 is a farmer by profession. She is a progressive farmer and a member of a farmer group named Sunpokhari Krisak samuha. She has five family members includes three son and her husband. The elder son is reading in grade 11, another son in 10 and younger son at 9 standards. Before the Anukulan made agriculture group, It was hard to manage the household expenses and educate her children from traditional farming. She has total of 3 ropani land. She used to do traditional vegetable farming and used to cultivate cereals crops in her total agricultural land and crop production from her land is enough for about only 4 months. Access to irrigation and market was one of the major constraints in the area. Also dry land inhibits the expected production which is overcome to some extend growing drought resistant varieties in cereals in support from Anukulan. However, in vegetables, she used to do subsistent farming and livelihood with agriculture as a major profession was pitiable. Moreover, due to lack of awareness on commercial vegetable farming, unaware of IPM tools, more used of chemical pesticide and not adopting modern technology made decrease in quality and quantity vegetable production which ultimately increased use of inorganic fertilizers, increasing input cost and degrading soil quality.

After making agriculture group by Anukulan, she got to learn various training and adopted climate smart technologies viz. drought resistant varieties in cereals, high plastic tunnel for vegetable production, mulching, zero tillage, using lures and traps for integrated pest management. Her husband worked outside the country. In the absence of her husband, her sons assist in her farming. The earnings of the vegetables are being utilized in their children education, household expenses and deposited in MFI named Swodeshi Lagubitta Kanchan Development Bank. Now Kaushila used to save GBP 1.92 per month.

The work has had some limited documentation. It is important to analyze and document the approach in more detail, it is broadly applicable to climate adaptation for smallholder farmers living in weak market environments.

Is there anything else you’d like to add? She expresses her happiness saying that, “My hard work in agriculture isn’t enough to get satisfactory production, it should be supported by proper technology and management. It would have taken us ages of experience in agriculture to learn and adopt those technologies

12 into the field and produce huge production but following climate smart practices we did it within 6 month.”

1.5 Case study of Ms. Rajyalaxmi Rana of Kanchanpur

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson? The story is about a commercial nursery grower. Anukulan project helped small farmers to raise income through providing knowledge on various methods of cultivating vegetable and its nursery as well as marketing of their produce.

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently? Ms. Rajyalaxmi Rana of Bhuda, Bedkot of Kanchanpur district has established herself as a vegetable nursery entrepreneur. Various technology trainings of nursery raisings such as use coco-pit, nylon net and use of trichoderma, a bio-pesticide taught her to grow healthy seedlings. In addition, use of organic manure and compost helped her grow nursery seedlings of various vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, chillies, tomato, onion and other winter season vegetables in a better and easy way. She is earning by selling nursery seedlings.

Cauliflower farming and onion nursery

Anukulan has developed a number of training modules in line with agriculture production. Training such as offseason vegetable farming training, IPM training, organic vegetable farming training, vegetable crop management training, nursery grower training, etc were given to farmers in project activity area. This helped farmers to adopt new techniques of farming and cultivate easily and efficiently.

Previously, she grew nursery seedlings but was just for herself and relatives and was unable to grow healthy and sufficient quantity of seedlings for selling. Through Aunkulan project, she learnt better ways to raise seedlings using plastic house, polypot and grow healthy seedlings commercially. This shows that if farmers were given trainings to grow in technical way with minimum investment, their income can be increased. This helped her to earn about GBP 307.69 by selling nursery seedlings. Furthermore, through use of this income, she has constructed plastic tunnel to cultivate vegetables also. With the knowledge acquired through various trainings now she is able to establish her nursery for commercial purpose and is very happy to start business that earn her income for her and family.

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result?

It shows that Anukulan training helped in mobilizing community resources to enable smallholders to be more resilient to climate change. Ms. Rajyalaxmi has substantially increased her income utilizing skills through training and best agricultural practices. She is now also linked to a collection centre and last mile supply chain that is providing technical support for climate smart agriculture technologies.

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.) Rajyalaxmi Rana has seven members in her family, husband, two sons, a daughter, mother in law and sister in law. One son is studying Hotel Management and another in class 10. Her daughter left studying after class 11. Her husband is also farmer and helped in her farming profession. She spent her earnings in children's study, household expenses and invests in her farming activity. Before to Anukulan, Ms. Rana was unaware about use of coco-pit, poly-bag and other technology of nursery growing and good agriculture practices under vegetable and cereal production.

Did things go according to plan? Did anything unexpected happen (positive or negative)?

This case is based on the field experiences of staffs working in this area.

1.7 Case study of ‘Zero tillage wheat in Rice-fallow lowland cropping system’.

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson? It is the success story of zero tillage wheat in Rice-fallow lowland cropping system in Belauri, Kanchanpur. Zero tillage wheat technology could flourish in the crop lands where it has worth. The main lesson is that hectares of fallow lowland could be utilized to increase cropping intensity by using climate smart farm machinery.

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently?

Zero tillage wheat in fallow and swampy lowland where conventional tillage operation by tractor and/or traditional plough is impossible in winter season.

Lowland regions in terai mostly includes the Rice-fallow cropping system, reaping only one crop within a year. In Belauri area of Kanchanpur district, such type of land is prevalent and thus farmers often leave the land fallow throughout the winter and spring season. These lands are wetlands where tillage operation is impossible after harvesting of rice crop. Zero till seed drill run by four-wheel tractor can easily run in such type of lands. Introducing ZT wheat technology is found suitable for increasing cropping intensity as most of the such lands remain fallow after rice harvesting due to unsuitability of land for ploughing for 3-4 months.

What could be the alternative way so that this type of land could be utilized for cultivation during the period? Members of Surya Farmer Group, formed by NEEDS Nepal, have no complete answer. Few square meters are utilized for Berseem fodder production and rest of the land remain fallow. When Anukulan staffs proposed them for zero tillage wheat cultivation in such type of fallow land using zero till seed drill, they get first surprised and started whispering among them. Most of them conveyed negative comments over the proposal. We, then decided to organize demonstrations in such lands using local ZT seed drill service provider. Group members enthusiastically observed the wheat seed sowing demonstrations organized on 21st November 2016 on Anu Chaudhary’s one hectare field , who is the president of the group. By then, farmers were regularly observing the demonstrated field with keen interest.

There was a concept among the farmers that wheat seed could not even germinate and emerge outside the ground in such situation, where ploughing is not possible due to high soil moisture. Even if it germinates, would have no appealing vegetative growth and finally no attractive yield. However, all these turned into myths. Finally, they found that the technology can work in their agricultural lands, even more yield achieved than their usual practice in other ‘good’ fields They agreed that they do not have to make their field remain fallow during the winter season. Other benefits of zero tillage wheat in such lands were: less weed competition and no need of irrigation. Because the ZT seed drill only made lining for sowing seeds, even the rainfall did not disturb the crop due to submergence but provided opportunity for top-dressing urea fertilizer.

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result? The demonstration helped convince farmers that tillage is not always utmost for farming operation. This is an important knowledge transfer through the demonstration activity to the farming communities. Farmers who observed the demonstration are keen to continue this technology next season. Zero tillage wheat technology in such places has following climate resilience perspectives:  Use of fallow land thus increasing cropping intensity by 200 percent.  No tillage, itself contributes to lesser carbon emission to atmosphere.  Green biomass contributes to carbon sequestration.  Increased grain and fodder stocks in family.

Are you the best person to talk to about this story, or is there someone else we should follow up with? Yes I am. But, NEEDS staff Mr. Amit Chaudhary and CIMMYT intern Mr. Harish Subedi may be consulted)

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.) This is a case of Belauri Muncipality-10, Baraiya, Kanchanpur Challenges faced: Non-availability of fertilizer at sowing time and the service provider was much busy in other works. Principle actors: The local seed drill service provider Mr. Ashare Badayak was supportive to organize such demonstration. Staffs of NEEDS Nepal based in that pocket played creative role.

Did things go according to plan? Did anything unexpected happen (positive or negative)? Yes It went according to plan. However, after the rainfall during the crop period, farmers applied urea very late, which reduced the vegetative growth than expected.

Is there anything else you’d like to add? This is the case where the demonstrations of improved technology enlightened the farmers. The real impact of such interventions at scale would be seen in near future.

CHAPTER-2: CASE STUDIES UNDER VALUE-CHAIN DEVELOPMENT

1.1 Case study of Kumari Agrovet of Fulbari, Kailali

Kumari agrovet owner

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson?

The story is about the emerging entrepreneurship of Mr. Ram Samaj Chaudhary who through the ANUKULAN guidance and support able to increase his income and services of his enterprise named ‘Kumari Agro-vet’. This is a good learning that the small intervention through Anukulan project could able to change and sustain the business.

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently?

Kumari Agrovet is located at Fulbari of Dhangadhi submetropolitian city. Kumari Agrovet provides service to the farmers of Fulbari and Urma villages. This agrovet is now well known to all the community members residing in these villages. Currently Kumari agrovet is earning GBP 4615.38 per year through selling fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, agricultural tools and MITs.

If we look at the past of this Agrovet till 2-years ago, Kumari Agrovet was earning only GBP 769.23 per year. Before to Anukulan/BRACED inception in this VDC and linking to this agrovet, they used to sell seeds, fertilizers and others goods to the farmers near the periphery of his agro-vet in small quantity but now it has progressed drastically and has directly linked to the farmers of adjoining villages through community business facilitators (CBF) named Ram Samajha Chaudhary and Arjun Chaudhary. Anukulan assisted this agrovet in mobilization of Challenge Fund through these CBF, which supported this agrovet in reaching to 3500 farmers providing technical solutions arises at field level besides selling required inputs to farmers.

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result?

Through initiation of Anukulan’s challenge fund programme, Kumari Agrovet is able to improve its business because before it used to sell the goods by the agrovet shop only but now after implementation of Anukulan's challenge fund programme CBF of kumari agrovet collects demand directly from farmers and advertize about services of agrovet too. The CBF provides training such as (Nursery management, IPM, home gardening and Organic vegetable farming training) and also observes their vegetable farm and if problem arises they recommend solution and provides suitable treatment measures. The CBFs also disseminate the new farm technologies and climate smart technologies like micro-irrigation technologies, plastic mulching, plastic house, bio pesticides etc.

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.)

Owner of Kumari Agrovet, Mr. Ram Samaj Chaudhary, is living with his wife and 2-kids (one son and one daughter). His wife is also assisting his business while his kids is schooling and in 3rd and 5th grade respectively. At the beginning, this agro-vet was not able to business as expected but after the initiation of challenge fund programme the agrovet hires 2-CBFs to implement the challenge fund programme at Field level which became panacea in speed up the business. But due to inadequate technical knowledge of CBF they face lots of problems while working with community, to collect demand of seed and pesticides and to conduct various related training to agriculture. Here, Anukulan organized different capacity building trainings to CBF and other technical team to provide timely technical solutions to farmers. Besides this, Anukulan provided Challenge Fund to mobilize CBF and conduct needed trainings/demos at farmer’s field.

Did things go according to plan? Did anything unexpected happen (positive or negative)?

Yes, everything goes according to plan, Small intervention through Anukulan project could able to change and increase the business of Agrovet and increase in direct linkage with community and also develops CBF which provides sustainability to the programme.

Concern staffs regularly visits at Agrovet and community. During their visit, their documents, information, photos etc. helped us to compile thi sstory.

1.2 Case study of Mr. Deependra Bohara of Alital, Dadeldhura

Photo: CBF busy in own Agrovet

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson? The story is about a CBF who through Anukulan support and guidance able to become a successful entrepreneur. Through Value chain program providing skills and knowledge together with timely backstopping to CBF can lead to become a real entrepreneur.

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently?

Mr. Deependra Bohara of Khinnebhadi, Alital - 6, Dadeldhura district has increased his income through promoted and sold different agricultural products such as MIT (Drip, Sprinkler), IPM products, Seeds, Bio-products. He is now well-known to his community as a CBF who is always ready to provide timely solutions to farmers.

Before Anukulan he was working as a CBF but he could not earn good enough income as of now. Through Anukulan project Challenge fund program, he got better idea of selling agriculture product and various training given to the community in effective way. After joining to Anukulan, Mr. Bohora has been given to various agricultural training as well as sales skill training from Anukulan project. Anukulan also assisting him in partnering with private sector mainly with agro-vet (CFI), traders for quality and timely supplying of needed agricultural inputs and equipments that helped him to provide quality input delivery and basic technical knowledge to the value chain household and non-household community members residing in Anukulan project area.

As a CBF, Mr. Bohora, provided various trainings including climate smart technologies like Nursery raising training, IPM training and MIT (Drip, Sprinkler), Trap installation this helped farmers to adopt new techniques of farming which became helpful in increasing income of farmers and providing various agricultural inputs to the community people made Deependra Bohara earn GBP 1033.84 from June-Feb-2017.

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result?

Getting good income from value chain program as a CBF was difficult to uplift his livelihood before initiation of Anukulan challenge fund program. When Deependra Bohara was selected as a CBF and Anukulan project given various agriculture as well as sales skill training boosts up his confidence to work more, earning good amount of income and maintain sustainability. Implementing public private partnership approach helped to utilize more effectively of the avail community resources, develop new entrepreneur and enable smallholders to be more resilient to climate change. He is a member of collection centre and he is now proprietor of Samaijee agrovet branch. Anukulan project constructed MPC/CC in that periphery that made easy to collect large and small scale of agricultural commodities in one place, earning good money as well as saving time too.

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.) Mr. Deependra Bohara has 5 family members including 2 sons, 1 daughter and 1 wife. One son is studying class 6, daughter in class 2 and another son in class nursery. Her wife is also supporting in Agrovet and his other work. Before Anukulan started challenge fund program, It was hard to manage the household expenses and educate his children. When Anukulan started value chain program, he got to learn various agricultural training and sales skill training by the help of this program earning is increasing in order. The earnings from income and commission are utilizing in his children education, Health and household expenses. Besides this, he now used to do monthly saving GBP 4 for the future emergency purposes.

Did things go according to plan? Did anything unexpected happen (positive or negative)? The Anukulan project work faced an initial challenge of coping with the Nepal Earthquake, the Anukulan districts were not impacted by the Earthquake but staff and government had to cope with the earthquake delaying implementation. Anukulan also had to cope with a 6 month economic and fuel blockade of Nepal.

1.3 Case study of Pashupati collection center/hatbazar of Bardiya

Photo: Daily Hat-bazzar in operation

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson? Establishing collection centre/hat-bazar as a part of commercial pocket approach can significantly increase the income and standardize livelihood of smallholder farmers through market strengthening.

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently?

Anukulan has facilitated the development of vegetable collection center (MPC) in partnership of different line agencies, the community, and Anukulan project. The MPC has been managed by a formed management committee established through representative of community members, farmers and traders in the area. MPC is following a Business plan that is jointly prepared in consultation with DADO, Farmer MPC member and Anukulan expert. MPC/CC marketing included different types of vegetable they are growing on farmers’ fields. Before Anukulan, agriculture farming and marketing has been started with the help of governmental and non-governmental organization but it was not in pace and not doing business which was discouraging for farmers. Farmers do grow few crops but only for home consumption as there were no marketing facility in the periphery and no collection and such hatbazzar nearby and therefore they didn’t move towards commercial production.

After inception by Anukulan in September 2016, a MPC/CC named Pasupatibazzar vegetable collection center/Hatbazzar has been established in this area in collaboration with the related line agencies and generated the fund amount of GDP 7692.30. This fund supported to establish structure with three market shed construction. This MPC/CC is operating once a week and is supporting 1800 agriculture household including 21 Anukulan groups in this area. After formation of MPC, Anukulan project provided Market management training and

22 others sales skill training including business plan for the sustainability and commercialization of this MPC/CC members. Mr. Man Bdr Ghartimagar , Chirperson of this MPC has already started the hat-bazzar for operating business at this CC and also has made contracts with buyers to sell if collected in large quantities.

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result?

It shows that public private partnership can mobilize private sector, public sector, and community resources to enable smallholders and supports towards marketing of their produces. The MPC linked this hat bazaar cum collection centre to Kohalpur regional market for supplying bulk produces received from farmers. With this market assurance, farmers motivated towards to grow more vegetables and farmers area already expanded 3-fold compared to previous. I regularly monitoring the marketing of this CC, and individually dicuss with the farmers coming with their produces at this CC for their problems, shared Mr. Man Bdr. Ghartimagar.

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.) Due to terrible geography and low production in this area, initially it was big challenge to move ahead towards commercialization. But the good partnership and encouraging support from all the stakeholders made it easy to establish the marketing centre at the door step of farmers. It was also discouraging for farmers in timely availability of inputs like fertilizer and seed. But after establishment of MPC, MPC also helped farmers to linked with avail input suppliers in the area which helped in timely availability of required inputs from farmers. While visiting the farmers in this CC to sell their produces, they also get opportunity to interact with different traders and MPC members helped them to get genuine price of their produces if brings in bulk quantity.

Did things go according to plan? Did anything unexpected happen (positive or negative)? The Anukulan project work is now in track but in some places due to extreme drought the agriculture is being affected.

This information is collected by our Marketing supervisor, Mr. Bikash Pariyar and the photo was captured during field visit. He is directly involved with the project intervention and the information is based on his field experiences and regular visit to MPC/CC and during interaction meetings with the related stakeholders and agriculture farmer.

CHAPTER-3: CASE STUDIES ON CLIMATE RESILIENT IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGIES

2.1 Case study of Garekhola MUS in Doti

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson?

This story is about managing water resource through gravity supply to increase water accessibility for domestic as well as irrigation for smallholder farmers through multiple use water systems, shortly called MUS.

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently? Garekhola gravity MUS is located at the Khirsain village of Doti which is one of the vulnerable communities due to drought and inaccessible water sources. The community lacked safe water sources

Water management in community through Multiple for sufficient domestic use as well as Use Water Systems irrigation requirements. Also, they are affected by communicable diseases during monsoon because of unmanaged water distribution system. There was an existing reservoir tank constructed by a project previously but was unmanaged and was of no use. The community requested if Anukulan could do something with the structure. The project team made an initial visit as requested and suggested to carryout prefeasibility survey which recommended for detail study. After the detail survey, demand calculation was done and design satisfies the RVT constructed and cost estimation had done for the construction. Communities and line agencies showed interest to support in kind and cash. Water user committee was formed with the chairmanship of Mr. Tek Bahadur Khadga. The agreement was signed with communities on 13 September 2016 and the construction started immediately. The MUS structure was completed in December 2016. Additionally, to secure a sustainable water source for the MUS, in November, a new recharge pond was constructed called Mugra recharge pond in which Anukulan and community contributed. This MUS is operational and serving 50 HHs and farms.

With the portable water sources at their farms, the communities are excited to go for vegetable farming. The chairman of WUC has set himself an example by expanding

24 vegetable farm area and selling them to local traders. He is an enthusiastic farmer and encouraging his friends to do the same. He continues to motivate all 50 HHs to go for vegetable farming to establish his village as

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result?

It shows that public private partnership can mobilize private sector, public sector, and community resources to enable smallholders to be more resilient to climate change. It solved the problem of drinking water system and irrigation pattern. Due to which they got more time to engage on other activities. After showing this type of activities, another community also attracts and also is starting this concept to adopt in existing effect of climate change.

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.)

Gerekhola MUS is located at the Khirsain VDC ward number 7. There was limited water source in the area therefore to get water facilities community planned to protect and enhance the source to maximum utilize of resources through construction of MUS. Anukulan team jointly finalizes the MUS project design and in partnership of community and stakeholders there completed the construction. After completion of this project community members get easy access of drinking water and irrigation for faming purposes.

Did things go according to plan? Did anything unexpected happen (positive or negative)?

Yes. Everything was as per our plan and no any disturbance was found during the work completion. Community member are very positive with this achievement

2.2 Case study of Ms. Bishana Devi Balayar of Doti

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson? This story is about a poor and uneducated farmer of Belchaud, Doti through which we learn that agriculture intervention implemented through Anukulan/BRACED Project has able to transform the life through improvement of their economic and social condition.

Ms Balayar in her onion and tomato farm

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently?

Ms. Bishana Devi Balayar along with her husband Mr. Prakash Balayar and son Mr. Sudip Balayar is residence of Shikhar Municipality-8, Belchaud, Doti. Before the Anukulan/BRACED Project, Bishna family was totally depend on the kitchen gardening following traditional method for vegetable growing. The proper guidance and training she got form project concerned staff now Ms. Bishana is following good practices on agriculture mainly drip irrigation, soil solarization, mulching, drip irrigation, high plastic tunnel, improved seed varieties and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) technologies like pheromone traps, trichoderma which became helpful in increasing income besides fulfilling other basic daily needs. Anukulan/BRACED project also helped their family in getting proper linkages and access towards microfinance institutions that helped the group to overcome financial burden by supporting loan for farming. Anukulan also helped in developing the last mile of the supply chain working with a private sector agro supplier for Bishana and her friends in her group to purchase needed agricultural inputs and equipment. Ms. Bishana is participating in the development of a rural collection centre supported by local government to market vegetables and provide information and services to farmers including a crop calendar with detailed climate smart crop recommendations. Now Bishna Balayar has been able to increase her annual income from 500 sq. mt. land by selling tomatoes especially during the three-

26 month period (April-June) from which she earned NRs 30,000 (GBP 231) using the benefit of climate smart agriculture technologies.

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result? Bishana Devi Balayar lives in a village where most of area is covered by sandy soil making them difficult for cultivating vegetables. Before Anukulan, her knowledge about cultivation was limited to kitchen garden however being a member of Anukulan farmer group now she is able to prove herself as an example in the village. Bishana has substantially increased her income utilizing more reliable ground water for irrigation and best agricultural practices. She is now linked to a collection centre and last mile supply chain that is providing technical support for climate smart agriculture technologies.

Now she doesn’t have to travel to local market to sell her produces, now she can simply harvest vegetables and sell to collection center established by Anukulan which nearby. This saves time her and her friends so that that can focus on other household chores.

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.) Bishana Devi Balayar, 31 years along with her husband Prakash Balayar and 10 years son Sudip Balayar struggling with their daily life and it was hard even to fulfill their basic needs with traditional farming they following. Her husband had to work in India as a watchman in a minimum salary which was not enough for them to fulfill their basic needs. And at the same time, due to sandy geographical, practices of traditional farming method, constraint to irrigation and market made their live more miserable. Every day she had to spend an hour from her home to fetch water for different purpose. She used to purchase vegetable and other goods from the nearby market place “Gopghat”. Their knowledge about the vegetable farming was limited to kitchen gardening. After the Anukulan/BRACED project come to her notice her economic life drastically get changed, now she had a saving of NRs 5,500 (GBP 42.30) in a local saving cooperative.

Did things go according to plan? Did anything unexpected happen (positive or negative)?

CHAPTER-3: CASE STUDIES ON FOOD NUTRITION AND HYGIENE PRACTICES

3.1 Case study of Ms. Shanti Devi Nath

Shanti with her nine-months son

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson? This story is about how nutrition of intensive training conducted for Shital farmer group can change the health and nutrition behavior of thousand day’s mothers (pregnant and lactating mother).

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently? Mrs. Shanti Devi Nath with her four family members resides at Banlek-6, Khanyakhola, Doti District. She is a housewife and spends most of her time at home. When Anukulan/BRACED Project selected the site for training and formed a group, she was one of the participants of intensive nutrition training. During training session, nutrition field facilitator facilitated her on health and nutrition areas and she learnt about antenatal check up, use of vitamin-A, iron tablet and folic acid, albendazole, iodized salt, growth monitoring, supplementary feeding and home gardening. The training was much more interesting than she thought and never missed a single session. Now, she regularly go for growth monitoring of her nine month’s child and regularly feeds four type of foods as part of complementary feeding. Besides, she is also doing regular breastfeeding, keeping regular sanitation, regular health check-ups etc.

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result? Nutrition intensive training is one of the best and interesting interventions that provide to all participant sufficient knowledge about health and nutrition, agriculture and climate change.

She learned not only theoretical but also observed the particle knowledge. NFFs facilitated to the participants practically, group discussion, local language, and be entertaining about visualizing health education, information and communication materials during conducting class. She felt more enjoyable and learning environment in the training session. She got more confident and improve her capacity building after ending of nutrition class. She started cultivating some of the green vegetables like (pumpkin, cucumber, tomato, radish, onion, etc) after taking intensive nutrition training. She come to know about the importance of cropping vegetable in home garden and start leaving vegetables buying from local market. She got fully support from their parents to care baby during her pregnancy time and lactating period after counselling from NFFs. The impact of intensive class was so high that she started feeding jaulo and litto with local ingredients foods to her child. She is also conscious on health and start taking more health care services from government institution rather than private sector.

Additional questions Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.) Shant’s community didn't get such type of awareness or nutrition related training and facing different problems in her daily life before the Anukulan. In most of the cases, thousand day’s mothers never go for ANC checkup during pregnant period.Now she encouraged womens of her village by sharing her knowledge and advices. Her husband, elder and younger son are the principal actors.

Did things go according to plan? Did anything unexpected happen (positive or negative) Now She is regularly breast feeding and complementary feeding to her child after completing intensive nutrition class. In present her child’s weight is 10 kg which is normal according to WHO standard”.

The work has had some limited documentation. It is important to analyze and document the approach in more detail,it is broadly applicable to climate adaptation for 1000days mother living in vulnerable community.

Is there anything else you’d like to add? Shanti now takes care of her child in correct way and encourages other villagers to do so as well. She has been a role model for many women's (especially for the mothers of small child).

3.2 Case study of Ms. Manisha Oli

Manisha with her four-months daughter

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson? This story is about 1000 golden days’ mother and her daughter who is just 4 months. The main lesson is about exclusive breast feeding entitled as “There’s nothing better than the mother’s milk”.

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently?

Manisha Oli, 25 years old from Sahare-4, Parekhet Surkhet is a mother of two children. “I used to feed watery porridge to my first daughter before she turned six months old,” says Manisha. Her daughter Aaisha constantly fell sick. At a recent nutrition training from Anukulan project, she learnt about correct breastfeeding methods. “When I gave birth the second time, I learned it was very important to breastfeed exclusively until the child is in six months of age.” said Manisha.

As mother everywhere in Nepal, Manisha has a lot of household responsibilities that demands her time and energy. She has two small daughters to look after and her husband is away for months at a time working outside the country, so Manisha has to manage on her own. “I didn’t breastfeed to my first daughter as soon as she was born. I thought that the Colostrum feeding as ‘dirty’ and also cannot digest by newborn baby. When she became four months, I didn’t think that my own breast milk is enough for my daughter, so I started giving her litto (a porridge made of wheat and soy). Her first child suffered frequent illness such as common colds, coughs, fever, pneumonia and diarrhoea” said Manisha. When Manisha became pregnant with her second child, she started getting help from BRACED/ Anukulan Project. According to Manisha, after the mobilization of Community Mobilizer and Nutrition Field

Facilitators for sensitizing directly or indirectly climate change related and its impact in the health and nutrition of mother and their child in Sahare-4, Surkhet, through Anukulan project, has become the member of the Sunaulo Jadibuti Samuha. There after I got the opportunity to participate in three months intensive training on nutrition. At the time of training, I was mothers of 3 months’ little child. In the training, I have learnt about the consumption of the locally available foods from each source of food, diversification of the food, colostrum feeding, exclusive breast feeding, extra meal, regular growth monitoring and promotion, necessity of proper hygiene and initiation, frequency and doses of the complementary feeding to the child.

When Manisha joined the nutrition class she met nutrition facilitator named as Pabitra Paudel who was trained by BRACED/Anukulan Project. Ms. Paudel counselled Manisha about improving her diet, and taking vitamins, iron and other macro and micro nutrients, so she could be stronger and able to produce sufficient milk for children’s. She also explained why it is important to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of a child’s life with example of using three glass and water then to start introducing foods like leeto after six months.

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result? “I was not aware that the mother’s milk is so good for the child,” said Manisha. “That protects children from disease, infection and improve the health status of the children.” Manisha’s second daughter, age of three month, got nothing other than breast milk till now “Not even water,” Manisha says proudly. “It is very easy to breastfeed. It doesn’t take any preparation time. It is hygienic, and I feed anytime as the baby needs it. My elder daughter could not digest the leeto so early. Small child is much healthier. I had been taken her to health facilities for immunization and growth monitoring. I had taken her to weigh last week – she was healthy.

Manisha has planned for complementary feeding to her child when she will be reached 6 months of age in addition to breast milk, and continue breastfeeding to her for at least when she turns two years and she has also planned to have a permanent family planning methods. Mrs. Manisha added that the 80% development of brains develop within two years. She has come to know the fact that feeding, rearing and caring has great impact on maternal and child nutrition.

“Nowadays we discussed social welfare issues, community development and women rights in mother groups meetings. Whenever I see golden thousand days’ mother, I share the lessons I learned, so they won’t have to suffer like I did,” she continued. She said, "colostrum is one of the most nutritious food (complete food) for the children below 6 months of the age”. She noticed that breast feeding has developed the child physically and mentally. In this case, the first children feed with “leeto” and get suffer from disease in the age of 6 months. Now, the colostrum has saved the child from suffering.

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.)

Manisha’s community didn’t understand the importance of colostrums feeding, exclusive breast feeding before intensive training of Anukulan project started. They also practice the variety of foods by growing the nutritious vegetable crops but in less quantity.Manisha Oli

31 has four family members including Husband and two daughters. Her husband supports the family from the remittance he earned.

Did things go according to plan? Did anything unexpected happen (positive or negative)?

The Anukulan project work is now in track which is followed up by nutrition officer time to time in 3-month interval for measurement of height and weight.

Is there anything else you’d like to add? It is very important to extend the time period of Nutrition Field Facilitator (NFF) in third year because the height weight tracking of the nutrition component will be difficult without their involvement.

3.3 Case study of Ms. Lalrani Tharu

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson? The three-month nutrition intensive training of the Anukulan/ BRACED project has significantly changed the knowledge and behaviors of 1000 golden days’ mothers, families and community for adapting healthy lifestyle.

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently?

One of the interventions of Anukulan is to impart knowledge on nutrition and health to the intensive farmers' groups through three-month intensive training on health and nutrition for reduction in proportion of under two years children who are suffering from under nutrition. As a part of it, Tharu Women Upliftment centre/ Anukulan project has been delivered three month nutrition training to members of Sunaulo Famer Group at SorhawaBardiya through Nutrition Field Facilitator (NF).

Lalrani Tharu resides in Sorhawa -1, Bardiya. She lives in joint family comprising of 8 members, with low family status and the family’s main occupation is agriculture which have been carried out from generations. They have been cultivating crops in the land get through cultivating right (mohiyanihak). Tharu added that, her older daughter Rabina got married with her boyfriend at the age of 18 without permission from her family. Although they get marriage due to dowry system and family cause, her husband left, at that time she was pregnant. She returned her birth place with sorrow and regret. While Lalrani joined nutrition intensive class her daughter gave birth of little baby named as Swikriti, this brings happiness in her family but unfortunately this happiness doesn’t exist long time.Rabina became victim of burn injury from fire, which was used for get rid from cold while Swikriti just reached to four days. Lalrani lost her daughter forever because of 80% burn injury while Swikriti just reached one month of age.

After the death of her daughter, Lalrani faced many troubles in her life. She always had fear inside her about growth and development of granddaughter with absence of her mother. She

33 shared her problem in nutrition intensive training with Nutrition Facilitator. The counselling from Nutrition facilitator also motivated her to breast feed to little baby, Swikriti. She started breast feed to her granddaughter after just she reached one month of age. She did not think that her own breast milk is enough for her granddaughter because her youngest daughter is at age of 13 years.” She got nothing other than breast milk till six month, not even water. Lalrani says proudly. “It is very easy to breastfeed. It doesn’t take any preparation time. It is hygienic, and I feed anytime as the baby needs it.” She started complementary feeding to Swikriti when she reached 6 months of age in addition to breast milk and continue breastfeeding to her for at least two years age.

She assures all family members that they wash their hands after touching dirt, before eating, before touching to her little granddaughter. She had taken her to primary health care center, Sorahawa for immunization and growth monitoring.

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result?

This is particularly interesting as it proves that willingness and determination makes everything possible. Grandmother started breast feeding to her granddaughter and protected her from malnutrition and diseases. Timely vaccination keeps away children from many fatal diseases and Harek Bar Khana Char helps to keep mother and child healthy’. Now she also grows variety of vegetables in her field and assures balanced diet to the whole family, this is due to raising the awareness on health and nutrition from Anukulan project.

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.)

Before starting of intensive nutrition training, Lalrani’s family used to suffer from frequent health problems like diarrhoea/indigestion, Stomach ache, headache, skin problems etc.Larani and her family did not pay more attention to their health, hygiene and nutrition. Most of the time the family used to eat only rice and spicy chilled potatoes, which almost all Tharu community does. Lalrani’s two daughters, one son, father-in-law, mother-in-low, one granddaughter and her husband were principal actors.

Did things go according to plan? Did anything unexpected happen (positive or negative)?

Yes, the nutrition status of child is good as her age. She had taken her for measurement of weight and height last week and she was healthy. Now Swikriti just passed one year and she is too cute and she has brought all the happiness to her family.

The work has had some limited information. NFF visited to the house of Lalrani and talked with her and collected all things.

Is there anything else you’d like to add? The caregivers of the child understood how to care and feed their children. Nutrition officer did not expect that women can sufficiently produce breast milk after long time breastfeeding gap.

CHAPTER-4: CASE STUDIES ON ESSENTIAL OIL

4.1 Case study of Shikhar Jadibuti Prasodhan Udhyog, Kanchanpur

Photo: Farmer engaged in wilting chamomile crop prior to distillation at Juda-Jhalari Pipladi

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson? The story is about development of small scale essential oil processing enterprise at Juda- Jhalari Pipladi Municipality and its benefit to small holder’s farmers from growing essential oil crops.

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently? Shikhar Herbal Processing Industry was established on 2004 at Jhalaripipladi Municipality-7, Juda Kanchanpur. The industry is operating in open place without shade and water tank producing limited essential oils produced by few farmers. They also need proper knowledge of agro technology, quality maintainace and market linkages of the essential oils.

In 2015 Anukulan\BRACED supported Shikhar Herbal Processing Industry for shade, fire place, water supply system. Anukulan\BRACED provided trainings on essential oil production to management committee and farmers. The trainings include agro technology, post harvest management, processing, quality maintainace etc. Anukulan\BRACED has also developed the linkages with the buyer so that they have assured market of their products. The project has also supported for establishing a revolving fund of NRs 100,000 with an aims to

36 provide loan to poor farmers for cultivation of essential oil crops with nominal interest. In this year, twenty farmers cultivated chamomile crops in around 6.6 hectare and eighteen farmers cultivated mint in one hectare. This year the industry had produced 18.5 kg of chamomile oil worth NRs. 74, 0000 (GBP 5,692) and processing of chamomile is ongoing. The distillation of mint crop will start after about a month. Presently eighty two households are registered as a member of the industry for growing essential oil crops and also in the process of expanding its membership.

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result?

Anukulan\BRACED provided various trainings to farmers for essential oil crop management, post-harvest management, entrepreneurship development. Anukulan\BRACED developed in linkage & coordination between essential oil buyer and producers for market assurance of farmers produce. With these support farmers are confident in producing good quality essential oil. A farmer from the area Mr. Dan Singh Dhammi was encouraged to take 5 katta land in lease for the cultivation of chamomile and able to earn GBP 153.84 from 1st harvesting. Mr Ratan Thagunna resides of the same area was also earned NRs 86000 (GBP 661) from 2.15 Kgs of chamomile oil produced from about 0 .35 hectare of land.

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.)

Shikhar Jadibuti Prasodhan Udhyog was in the Nepal terai which is subject to flooding and droughts. Essential oils crops are more resistant to both drought and floods, earn higher returns, and don’t have pest problems so that pesticides are not needed. Before Anukulan intervention this enterprise is facing the problem of quality oil production and not producing Chamomile oil and also has limited linkage with the essential oil buyers. With support from Anukulan the community is more confident in producing quality oil and developed linkage with the buyer.

Did things go according to plan? Did anything unexpected happen (positive or negative)? The pile up of the activities due to earthquake and blockade during initial phase of the project, make some lagging in implementation. Anukulan/BRACED support in management and technical backstopping in different aspects of essential oil production will lead to assure benefits to rural farmers in terms of income and resilient to impact of climate change.

37 for more continuous processing to increase profitability. Essential oil processing is expanding in Nepal and has good markets. The work has had some limited documentation. It is important to analyze and document the approach in more detail; it is broadly applicable to climate adaptation for smallholder farmers living in weak market environments.

4.2 Case study of Sunauli Essential Herbal Processing Industry, Bardiya

Mr. Kukeshor Tharu , the manager is operating Essential oil Distillation Unit and collecting chamomile oils, Baniyabhar VDC.

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson? The story is about establishing of small scale essential oil processing enterprise at Baniyabhar Village Development Committee (VDC), Bardiya in public private partnership. It aims to benefits the small holder’s farmers and community forest users from essential oil production.

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently?

Eight years ago, small holder’s farmers and community forest user of Bodgauri Madhyawarti community forest at Baniyabhar VDC of Bardiya had initiated cultivation of essential oil crops with the help of governmental and non-governmental organization without proper planning of distillation. They faced problem of distillation as there was no distillation unit and were not able to get return from it and dropped the idea of it. Anukulan in October 2015 supported to establish a new steel essential oil distillation unit in the named ‘Sunaulo Essential Herbal Processing Industry’ in collaboration with the related stakeholders including government. The distillation unit is managed by a formed distillation management committee established through the Bodgauri Madhyawarti community forestry user group (CFUGs). CFUGs conserve and utilize forestry resources following incorporated an essential oil production plan that is approved by with the District forest office. Mr. Kukeshor Tharu is appointed as the manager of this distillation unit. The industry is supporting 189 household for production of essential oils. Anukulan provided different technical trainings to increase farmers’ capacity.

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result?

It shows that public private partnership can mobilize private sector, public sector, and community resources to enable smallholders to be more resilient to climate change. This year the Industry had produce 120 kg of different oils worth NRs. 326,000 (GBP 2500).

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.)

The essential oil unit is in the Nepal terai which is subject to flooding and droughts. Essential oils crops are more resistant to both drought and floods, earn higher returns, and have less pest problems. Essential oil processing is expanding in Nepal and has good markets. The distillation enterprise charges members a fee for processing and marketing of the essential oils.. We have opportunity in this area to produced eucalyptus, jarakus, curry patta oil that are growing in Budgauri Madhyawarti community forest.

How do you know these things? E.g. is it based on your project’s experience, discussions with colleagues, or was there a formalised piece of research (if so, please specify the organisation or research)? Has it already been documented in papers, articles, blog posts, video, etc. (if so, please share these with us)? iDE over the last 10 years has improved the essential oil processing technology and developed a business model utilizing production from community forests and farmer fields for more continuous processing to increase profitability. Essential oil processing is expanding in Nepal and has good markets. The work has had some limited documentation. It is important to analyze and document the approach in more detail, it is broadly applicable to climate adaptation for smallholder farmers living in weak market environments.

CHAPTER-5: CASE STUDIES ON CCA and DRR PRACTICES

5.1 Case study of Pardeshni Chaudhari

Pardeshni Chaudhari at her farm in Masuriya VDC What is this story about – what’s the main lesson?

This story is about the implementation of LAPA prioritized activities that supported the local livelihood of ethnic and rural vulnerable community increased their income and changed the quality of life. The prioritized interventions can change economic status of the people.

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently?

Masuriya VDC of Kailali district is one of the working VDC of Anukulan Project where local adaptation plan of action was prepared last year. During LAPA preparation, community and Village Energy Environment and Climate Change Coordination (VEECCCC) had identified vulnerable community, major hazards and major adaptation options in the plan. Among them, off season vegetable cultivation was one of the priorities adaptation options to enhance the livelihoods of the vulnerable community. Similarly, Aitha Gaoun-8 of Masuriya VDC falls under the high vulnerable but the land is suitable for off season vegetable cultivation. So, Anukulan project formed Sugandha agriculture women group in coordination with and consultation with VEECCCC on 28 September 2016. Besides, VEECCCC decided to support Nrs 59,800.00 for the promotion of off season vegetable for 23 household (all ethnic community) of the group from Climate Change Initiative funds of LAPA.

The project provided technical support to select sites, seeds and nursery establishment to all members of the group on November 2016 and established nursery to produce the seedlings of chili, cauliflower, cabbage and tomato.

Similarly, to enhance the capacity of group members, technical trainings like plantation technique, organic vegetable farming, use of fertilizer, integrated management training was Off season vegetable nursery established by Pardeshini also provided to all members. In the meantime; group member decided to cultivate off season vegetable at least 666 square meters (2 Kattha) of land.

Ms Pardesini Chaurdhari, aged 45 resides in Aithan Village of Masuriya-8, one of the group members of Sugandha Women Group and farming off season vegetable in 1000 square meter of land. She received plantation technique, IPM training from Anukulan project. Besides, she got technical support from Anukulan project as and when necessary. On the selling of season vegetable (cauliflower, cabbage and Chilli) she earned Nrs 63,300 (GBP 454) in one season. Now, she is popular as a progressive farmer in her village. Ms Chaudhari has altogether 5 (3 female and 2 male) family members and now she is a happy farmer. She changed her house roofing replacing grass by zinc plate and installed hand pump from the income. Now, her house is safer from rain and able to drink safe and clean water.

The chairperson of the group Ms Sabita Chaudhari and her future plan is to scale up of season vegetable and seasonal vegetable farming to develop as a vegetable pocket area. Besides, they are also thinking to establish vegetable market centre.

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result?

It shows that, with small technical and financial support, one farmer earned Nrs 63,300 (GBP 454) and the chairperson of the group Ms Sabita Chaudhari mentioned that, total income of the group members (23 households) was altogether Nrs 14, 44,000 (GBP10, 314.3) from 16,650 square meter of land which is highly encouraging for off season vegetable farming and ultimately to support to enhance the resilience capacity of vulnerable community. In most of the cases, community and VEECCCC decided to use climate change adaptation fund for tangible activities (especially infrastructure related) but if such fund is used in needy community in a package it can also significantly support to enhance the resilience capacity of the vulnerable community. Now, she has better income, secure house and also able to drink safe and clean drinking water which is possible due to the mobilization of climate change initiative funds.

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.) Pardeshni and her family members live in the village. Her two daughters are receiving higher school education (10+2) near by the village where as one son is working government office.

Her husband is also a lead farmer in the village and had received training from Anukulan project so he closely supports her. Major challenge in her village is drought and inadequate irrigation system and flooding during rainy season. To face the problem, she has adopted drip irrigation and conservation practices including use of mulching to reduce loss of water. Before the intervention of Anukulan, she has limited knowledge on

Did things go according to plan? Did anything unexpected happen (positive or negative)? Yes, all went as planned.

It is adapting by other organization as well to enhance the resilience the capacity of vulnerable community. It is low cost and locally adopted technology to increase the income of rural poor.

5.2 Case study of Mr. Dhan Bahadur Oli

Photo: Farmer making two pot hole Improved Cooking Stove

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson? The story is about a change brought after the installation of two pot hole Improved Cooking Stove (ICS). The main lesson of this case is; ICS can drastically reduce work load of the vulnerable community. Besides, it also significantly contribute to maintain clean environment.

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently?

Anukulan aims at building the resilience capacity of vulnerable community that have been adversely affected by the climate change shocks and stresses. To achieve the goal, Anukulan project is promoting renewable and clean energy; ICS is one of the interventions under this theme. To promote ICS effectively and sustainably, Anukulan project has identified active and experienced local ICS promoters and provided refresher training in coordination with District Energy Environment and Climate Change Section of District Development Committee and mobilized them in the needy community with the help of community mobilizer.

Mr Dhan Bahadur Oli resident of Bheriganga Municipality-8, Toli khola showed interest to install ICS in his own house. As per his interest, Anukulan personnel contacted with Amar BC, one of the ICS promoters who has already received refresher training from Anukulan, to install ICS in Dhan’s house.

Before ICS, Dhan and his family has to collect firewood from nearby forest thrice a week. But, after ICS installation, the frequency of his movement to collect firewood has reduced to once a week. ICS has proven to be beneficial technology and economic too."

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result?

This is particularly interesting as it has reduced firewood consumption significantly and supported to maintain healthy indoor and outdoor environment.

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.)

Dhan Bahadur Oli resides in Bheriganga-8, Kalidamar. He had to go to forest for collection of the firewood which was tedious and risky job as community forest or national forest around his residence had prohibited the collection of firewood. Forests used to be opened twice a year for the collection of firewood. The other provision for the firewood was private woodland. This was a challenge as the forest cannot grow overnight. Mr. Oli's private land does not have much firewood production. The solution has to found but the best possible was to use less firewood consumption technology.

Did things go according to plan? Did anything unexpected happen (positive or negative)?

Yes, things went on according to plan.

The work has had some limited information. I have been there when ICS was installed and I talked to Oli after one and half months.

5.3 Case study of Ms. Kalika Chaudhary, a biogas user

Biogas established in Kalika’s premises

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson? Reducing carbon emission through support in establishment of bio-gas for cooking purposes. Lesson: Climate change adaptation practice following bio-gas technology played a key role towards health and environment protection.

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently?

During the project period, 69-biogas plants have been installed by Anukulan project in coordination with district energy environment and climate change section of District Development Committee and Municipality Energy Environment and Climate Change Coordination committee (MEC4) of Krishnapur MP, Kanchanpur and approximately 345 people are directly benefitted. It is directly contributing to minimize the use of firewood, kerosene oil and expensive LPG instead using bio-gas animal dung and human toilet for cooking purpose. These HHs were selected from ME2C4 of Krishnapur Municipality considering the vulnerability households identified in Local Adaptation Plan of Action (LAPA). Most of people in this area are Janajati who were trans-located from the extension of Suklaphanta NP buffor zone.

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result? Bio-gas plant installation has helped to protect Laljhadi forest as expanding use of firewood was creating threat to nearby Laljhadi forest. Now there is annual saving of 1.5 tons of fuel wood per HHs who has installed biogas plant. These users of bio-gas are removing their hands from the over use of firewood.

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.) Kalika Chaudhary-35, one of them, lives in Krisnapur- Kanchnapur district has build bio-gas few months ago in coordination with Krishnapur MP. She uses it for cooking purpose in family member of 6. She used to collect 2 dullop (10-12 quintal of bull-cart) of firewood yearly from the Laljhadi forest. It used to take whole day to chop, bind and collect fire wood

46 in bull-cart that is approximately 10km away from house. Now after installing Bio-gas she has reduced using fire wood more than one third, save time to do extra work in the farm.” Eye irritation and cough were found as a main health related ailments in most of the houses which has been completely prevented.

Did things go according to plan? Did anything unexpected happen (positive or negative)? Yes, everything done is planned. Low gas productions particularly in winter indicate that fire wood is still alternate to bio-gas installed that has prevented forest.

The case study is based on a field survey.

5.4 Case study of Early warning system and bio-engineering

Bio-engineering done to protect from flooding in monsoon and River flood Gauge station installed.

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson? The Anukulan harmonized LAPA approach can mitigate the climate induced disaster Risk by using Early warning system and bio-engineering. Vulnerability in the area to disaster has decreased.

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently?

Dekhatbhuli VDC lies in the Middle East side of Kanchanpur district. The VDC is surrounded by two big rivers Macheli (Doda) and Manahara from east and west sides respectively. These two rivers combine together at north of VDC and after which it’s named as Doda river. Other smaller tributaries are also following from the VDC, these all accumulate large amount of water and cause great threat to people during monsoon. This is a one of the highest flood vulnerable VDC of Kanchanpur district. Most of the people living here were marginalized tharu community. Status of educational, social and infrastructures development seems very poor.

Anukulan program start to work by middle of 2015, after starting ANUKULAN was facilitated to formation VDC level Energy, environment and climate change coordination committee (VE2C4) to prepare harmonized Local disaster risk management plan-LDRMP Climate Change Local Adaptation plan for Action (LAPA), the harmonized plan about DRR and LAPA implementation. After preparation of harmonized LAPA/DRR interventions has been implemented Community based early warning system (EWS) to measure water level of flood through flood gauge and provide status of flood hazard to down streaming community people and linkage upstream station to down streaming community people about status of flood early warning to timely safe evacuation in safe place for minimize risk during flooding. ANUKULAN has also supported to district and community for development of Early warning system-EWS/ communication mechanism/ communication channel and aware community people about those/ EWS system through awareness raising events like street drama. ANUKULAN provided support for formation of DRR and CCA, task force (sub- committee like early warning, search & rescue and first aid taskforces) and capacity buildup

48 training, DRR/emergency materials support to sub-committee. As same ANUKULAN/BRACED was provided support to community through VE2C4 to construction of 600-meter bamboo embankment (bio-engineering). Similarly, farmers group formation, farmer’s trainings of cash crop/vegetable farming, establishment of essential oil distillation unit and related NTFP essential oil crop farming.

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result? From the process of harmonized Local disaster risk management plan-LDRMP/LAPA preparation participatory method was used and during implementation fund was released to VEECCCC account and implemented through community users groups; The decision makers for implementation local stakeholders so it helps to increases ownership of the program. The participatory process connects all the likeminded organization and makes Anukulan activity single streamed. The process was best learning for VDC stakeholders as well community people. Laxman Karki a local politician at Dekhatbhuli said, “In past days we have trouble to slip in whole night because during of monsoon period, we have any time in risk from flood but nowadays we have community based early warning system with linkage upstreaming river gauge station, if flood label raise upstreaming gage readers inform us for safe evacuation before flood so now days we will sleep safely with relax mood” He added that all stakeholders highly appreciated the working approach and community people were also happy because livelihood support and disaster risk reduction training enhanced community peoples skill for disaster preparedness and response during disaster. As same bio engineering work protecting land from soil erosion from flood by Anukulan (taking the example of Chandapur community, Dekhatbhuli VDC) Karki said.

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.)

Similarly thought were expressed by Sunmati Chaudhary of Chandapur community who is disabled single women working as VEECCCC member, EWS task force coordinator (downstream) and Chandapur essential oil farmer’s group member. She said that every year Doda River erode our lands, there was great threat to people that Doda will swift away our village but Anukulan program had changed the status as well as level of understanding of local people. We had constructed bamboo embankment (bioengineering) to protect the lands and established EWS upstreaming to downstream communication mechanism which makes information about hazardous flood at early to escape. Also people use to graze pet animals on open barren land around river but these days we use this land for income generation by planting essential oil farm because Anukulan had established a Distillation Unit at our community. As same Ramsugrib Rana CDMC chaierperson of Dekhtbhuli Tilkee shared his experience about flood early warning system “Before establishment of early warning system every night we were not sleep well, every time we were fleeing unsafe from flood during monsoon period. ANUKULAN project has provided support to us to establishment of early warning system now we have been feeling safe, because before reaching flood in community we got information by upstreaming gauge station, then we safely evacuate in safe place during flood” as same he described ‘’ last year 28 August afternoon raining start upstreaming hilly area, then gauge reader informed us flood reached in danger level, sometime later we also asked status of flood (increasing or decreasing) to upstreaming gauge readers he informed us level of flood is increasing steel , after this we have call back to wood workers from forest and informed to all community people about level of flood, unfortunate wood workers who were came from jungle trapped in river joining (Doda and Manhara) they tried to safe themselves by catching grass/ plants in riverbank, as same time Tiger ( wild animal )

49 also seen swimming to save themselves same area , we all community people create louder sound / crying and scape tiger in jungle (there is Shuklaphnata national) after our crying tiger move back toward jungle, then we have called to Nepal Army and armed police force and they evacuated them for safe place , so early warning system saving Our life.”

Did things go according to plan? Did anything unexpected happen (positive or negative)? Community is very positive towards the intervention. As locally available resource was used to prevent the flood in agriculture land. The activity was completed as per plan.

How do you know these things? E.g. is it based on your project’s experience, discussions with colleagues, or was there a formalized piece of research (if so, please specify the organization or research)? Has it already been documented in papers, articles, blog posts, video, etc. (if so, please share these with us)? It is based on the field observation, discussion, shared by beneficiaries and interview with the beneficiary group in the area. EWS and Bio-engineering has a great importance in the rural area as an adaptive measure to enhance the resiliency and mitigate flood hazard at Tilki, Chandapur community of Dekhatbhuli VDC.

5.5 Case study of culvert construction

School children uses the culvert on their way to school

What is this story about – what’s the main lesson? The story is about a change brought about after the construction of Culvert. The main lesson is the fund and kind support from community for Culvert construction in the Karansuwa Jharan, Padanaha VDC-2.

Describe the new activity/change in practice that was introduced. What led to the change? Who was involved, and what did they start to do, or do differently?

Anukulan aims at building the resilience capacity of households and community that have been affected by the climate change disaster shocks and stresses. One of the interventions of Anukulan is facilitating to assess disaster vulnerability & capacity - VCA of Community and based finding of assessment to prepare harmonized Local disaster risk management plan (LDRMP) and Local Adaptation Plan for Actions (LAPA). The plans were come from settlement level. During VCA of the community and preparation of Harmonized LDRMP/LAPA there was directly involvement of WCF, VDC SM, Political parties, MPC, district and local level government line agencies, organization working on climate change and DRR sectors representatives, Red cross representatives, LDMCs, VDC Secretary, etc. In 3 years Harmonized LDRMP/ LAPA there are mainly 45 type's different heading activities with GBP 335753.84 budget for adaptation plan.

In Padnaha VDC of Bardiya district there was difficult/unsafe route for students and local people link community to market place, government service office as well safe evacuation to safe place during disaster. This rout also very risky for safe evacuation during flood and other purpose because there was no other route to link market, government service centers and schools from community. Community people were seeks to found financial support to construct culvert for safe evacuation during disaster as well make easy link with market, government service centers and schools. ANUKULAN Project conducted ROLDP training to Culvert construction user group and VE2C4 member. During training they prepared safe culvert construction plan for their safety evacuation. After their plan they collected fund from

Anukulan project GBP 3076.92. Baghailaphanta community forest support GBP 138.46 and community contribute GBP 2834.13. With the help of that money they prepared culvert.

Please explain why this is interesting. What difference did it make? How was practice improved as a result?

This is particularly interesting as it constructs there is short and save route towards save place during disaster especially flood. After construction of culvert easy for children, older and villagers to go to school, V.D.C., health post, collection center and market. Now Padanaha VDC allocate GBP 1538.46 budget for improvement of culvert and GBP 3076.92 for construction of road from that village to VDC.

"After construction of culvert, there is easy, short and safe route for student to go schools; sick persons and other pregnant and lactating women for health checkup. Also this helps farmers and people to sale and purchase vegetable and other daily uses stuff from market and collection center main thing is this culvert provide safe route to community for safe evacuation in safe place from community during flood disaster" said Sannu aahamad Khan vice secretory of Padanaha VEECCCC.

Describe the situation in greater detail (location, challenge faced, principal actors, etc.) Out of 18 VDC of Bardiya Padanaha lies in high ranking of disaster and 768 people directly affected by flood disaster in 2071 B.S., according to District Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan-2073. Karansuwa Jharan lies in the way to short and safe route during disaster. It link directly 530 households with 3090 populations from flood prone zone of the VDC. There was no safe route to go schools, health post, bazar and other facility from VDC during rainy seasons. This culvert will provide this opportunity to community people.

Did things go according to plan? Did anything unexpected happen (positive or negative)?

Yes, things went on according to plan.

The work has done with social audit in VDC. Budget allocation from VDC council can be found in VDC council book and discussion with community people.